Today at Government Canyon I believe I spotted a fox. It was between 9 and 10 on Far Reaches. The animal had just come out on the trail and turned to face me, then turned and darted into the brush. I caught a nice profile and a large, long bushy tail. I believe it was a kit fox, after researching a bit on the Internet. It happened very quickly and I really only got a brief glimpse and no chance at all for a photo.
The day was overcast with some sprinkling. There were no new wildflowers to report.
Today was a great day at Government Canyon. It had rained a bit this week and I anticipated a burst of wildflowers but was disappointed again. There really isn’t much bursting forth going on out there this year. Last week’s Mountain Laurel has pretty much disappeared. I did find some clusters of Plains Blackfoot sometimes known as Rock Daisy. Anyhow, that is the identification I’ve come up with using my Wildflowers of Texas book. The scientific name is Melampodium leucanthum and it is a member of the sunflower family.
So, I am thankful to have seen some smatterings of Plains Blackfoot. Also, a few cactus were beginning to show an inclination to bloom. It has been several weeks now when it seems they have been poised to explode yet nothing until today.
Timber Rattler
But the cool thing about today’s hike—I saw a rattlesnake, and a fairly large one at that. It was on the Johnston Trail between the 7 and 8 markers and was making his way across the trail into the brush. I was able to capture a photo as he was disappearing into the brush. The rattle is distinctive. And it looked well fed. Click on the photo to get a larger view.
Government Canyon might have a lot of wildlife but I haven’t really seen much on my myriad of hikes out there. I have seen a few dear, a couple of wild hogs, a porcupine, a rattlesnake, a coyote. But these are always the exception and really make the hike better.
Today a hog snorted at me. I was on Caroline’s Loop, near the 2 marker and I heard a distinctive snort. I peered into the brush but could not make out anything. But I could imagine a big yellow hog eye staring back at me, maybe a feral boar, with boar’s feet stamping at the ground looking for a charge angle. I saw that once in a movie, I think it was The Thornbirds. I know the feral hogs play a predominant role in Old Yeller. Anyway I continued to stare and it continued to snort and I finally moved on. No chance for a picture there.
The wildflowers are not blooming in Government Canyon. But there is an abundance of Mountain Laurel and that is always welcome. The cactus seem ready to bloom, maybe next week.
Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora), Government Canyon.
This blog posting is for you. I know you have had a rough time with your knee surgery and complications so I thought I would send you a photo to remind you of happier times.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you get better.
John and Marilyn at Fair Haven, Great Falls, Montana. circa 1953
Government Canyon is now open at 7:00 am. I have been out there the past two weeks and today I noticed spider webs across the trail. Not a lot, but another indication of spring. Last week there were rain lilies and this week there were Mountain Laurel blooms. The cacti appear ready to explode.
Vivian and I returned last Thursday after a grueling 6 days and 5 nights in the Grand Canyon. The hike to Cheyava Falls was challenging but certainly a great adventure for the both of us. I am currently going through our photos to prepare a DVD for Grandma and eventually a page describing the hike here. For now here is a color coded topo map from our GPS tracks of our hike.
Red = Bright Angel Trail
Green = Clear Creek Trail
Purple = Cheyava Falls via Clear Creek
Yellow = Colorado River via Clear Creek
Orange = South Kaibob
The Cheyava Falls and Colorado hikes were both done by following Clear Creek. This involved a bit of bush-whacking and some route finding to get to Cheyava Falls. My hike to the Colorado was stopped a mile short by a 15 foot pour off. There was a rock climb passage down the west side but it was steep and I was unsure of getting back out and back to Vivian at the Clear Creek Camp. The National Park flyer states to stop here if you are not comfortable with rock climbing. Duh.
The final hike out was quite difficult. We left the AK9 campsite and hiked 2 miles to Phantom Ranch in the early morning of March 17. We exited the canyon around 6:30. It was a tough, steep hike out and the packs were heavy.
I spent this morning running errands and finalizing purchases for the Grand Canyon 2009 hike to Cheyava Falls. Goode Sport coupon was good for a hat and Mountain House Food and also a stuff sack for my tent. I believe we’ve got what we need and when Vivian and I pack up at the motel on Wednesday afternoon we can run out and purchase any other items necessary. Of course, I’m assuming we will be in Tuscayan at the Seven Mile Inn.
Vivian arrives tomorrow in the late afternoon. I am currently writing the Grand Canyon, March 2007 hike which is quite difficult as a lot happened on that hike and a lot happened leading up to it.
Vivian made her practice hike in Lost Maples this Saturday and Sunday. Jesse joined us for the hike and camping and brought his fishing rod.
Vivian with husband Jesse at Los Maples, Feb 21, 2009. Vivian is doing a practice camp out in preparation for a Grand Canyon hike.
All went well as we arrived in the late afternoon and hiked about 3.5 miles to our campsite. We arrived in fine spirits, set up tents and cooked our food. Then we went to bed. In about 2 hours the temperature began to drop. I awakened to a numbness and put on my fleece. I should have put on my rain jacket as well but didn’t think to. Since we went to bed about 7:30 it was a very long night as it kept getting colder. When Vivian checked her water bottle in the morning it was a block of ice. I can’t recall being that cold while camping. Maybe once when I was a boy scout in Montana, in the dead of winter. But this was a surprise—I never anticipated it getting so cold. You just can underestimate the trail and overestimate your abilities. That is a lesson I keep learning.
The next morning we set off for the ponds and in a short while all was well and we had forgotten the suffering from the previous night. On our walk back to the car we took the East Trail and on the plateau we encountered a friendly beast.
I turned 60 this Feb 1 and have been kind of waiting around for that fact to actualize. In the morning I spent some time with Singer and Colter at Connally and got a nice video of Colter.
Singer at Connally Middle School, San Antonio, Tx. Harper can be seen peeking into the photo.
So far I have experienced no ill effects from the big 6-oh. Maybe my motorcycle days are over.
Vivian and I are planning on making the practice run to Lost Maples next week or the one after. It’s getting close to the Spring break time and our trek to Cheyava Falls.
Grandma was home for Christmas break. She claims this will be her last visit because the plane rides are stressful, but we will find out later. It all depends on how she is feeling around July and August when we usually make our plans for Christmas. Vivian got a video of Grandma working with her Great Grandson Andrew.
We also heard from Beverly and she is missing Bob, of course. The holidays are cruel sometimes. I snapped a photo of Singer and Colter for her. Colter was rescued by Beverly and Bob and was raised by them, along with a number of other dogs, at Bridging the Worlds, an animal sanctuary. According to a rabies vaccination certificate that I have from the Santa Fe Animal Shelter, Colter was born June 19, 2007. My brother passed away February 6, 2008. It was around that time that I adopted Colter. He is about about 7 and 1/2 months in the photo below.
Singer and Colter, Dec 2008
I have a week more of break and hope to add to my blog. Currently I am working on my Grand Canyon Pages and then will move to the Appalachian Trail.
